EDINBURGH lost captain Todd Blackadder to a hand injury as they kickstarted their Celtic League campaign with a hard-fought victory at home to Munster last night.

Blackadder was forced to leave the fray midway through the first half - and then centre Tom Philip was taken off with a knee problem.

Munster went into attack and rocked Edinburgh by taking the lead with a penalty by Conrad O'Sullivan. But the home side were quickly stung into action.

Inspired by a try-saving tackle by Hugo Southwell on Martin McPhail, they levelled with a long-range Brendan Laney kick. The Scotland reject grabbed the lead in identical fashion before Andy Dall claimed the opening try.

Laney managed another penalty from a wide angle. But with Derrick Lee in the sin bin, Munster clawed back three points. But Marcus Di Rollo and Simon Webster combined to send Ally Hogg cruising in under the posts to give Laney an easy conversion. O'Sullivan reduced the leeway with his third penalty, but Edinburgh got the vital win.